Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-21
TRANSCONTINENTAL RATES.
Complaints to the Commerce Commis.
Sion from the Pacific Coast.

The following telegram has been received By the
Interstate Commerce Commission:
SAN JOSE, CAI--The New Almaden is the largest
quicksilver producing mine In the o. s. Its pr1n-
clpal works are in New York, where its product
comes Into competition with Spanish quicksilver,
shipped at low rates OF freight from London. The
present transcontinental rates shut us out OF the
New~York market entirely, and will have con-
sequently disastrous effect on this Industry.
t'tSigneD IR R.rnor MANAGER
several kilograms have been received from the
PACING coast fruit interests, setting forth the
rates. wa
en-. Wicker, telegraphs from CHICAGO. on be.
nan OF the board OF trade and merchants OF Chi
cago, announcing wish to be heard upon the
1dranscontl9ental question and asking that the
arguments can be submitted. 1--WE are the tele-
gram says, sin favor OF conditional suspension OF
long ana snort haul clause on Pacific coast traffic
PROVIDED rates from the great lakes and MfSSis-
slppi valley be made proportionally less than
from Atlantic seaboard, as has been the case In
the power given you in section OF prescribing
the extent The carriers may be relieved so as to
protect intermediate territory now excluded from
direct commercial relations with the East, BY
ruling that the intermediate rates shall in no case
be more than 80 per cent higher than the through
rate"
IN FAVOR OF TIE FOURTH SECTION.
The following telegram from San Francisco was
received by the Commission: "Defer action on sec.
ton four until receipt of memorials from Chamber
OF commerce and leading merchants and manu-
1acturerS OF this city mailed you to-day. In them
VIII be found potent arguments against suspen-
SION" This Is signed by w. L. Garrett, president
MANUFACTURERS Association OF California, and seven
nrnS, forming committee OF the merchants and
manufacturers OF San Francisco.
Also the foliowing: cat a meeting Of the Manu-
facturers Association of California held TO-DAY the
fo9OWMg was adopted: Resotucd, That the gene
raj good OF the people OF the Pacific coast par
ticularly In their manufacturing and industrial
pursuits, VIII De promoted by the Interstate CON-
merce act, and especially by the enforcement of
the fourth section thereof as its provisions AFFORD
long needed relief from the exact1ons and unjust
determinations in transportation rates which
have prevailed, retarding growth OF and INJECTING
injury upon our manufacturing industries. We
therefore earnestly oppose and respectfully pro-
test against the suspension OF the Aforesaid fourth
section OF the act" CS1gnedl
W. I. GARRETT, President
GEO. c, HIcKox, Secretary.
w. L. Merry, president OF the Chamber OF Com
MERGE OF San Francisco, telegraphs series Of reso-
buttons adopted by that body ravOrtng 'the excep-
ton OF such industries and special cases abso-
lutely require rapid transit from the operation OF
section 4.
PETITION OF THR SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr. Chas. q. Tweed Of New York, in behalf OF the
Southern Pacific Railroad urged the suspension of
the fourth section OF the law. BE presented De-
tition in favor of such suspension. The petition
sets forth that the southern Pacific Is In cOmpeu.
ton for the transportation OF through freight and
passengers with the Canadian Pacffic, the Pacific
Mall Steamship Company, clippers and tramp
steamers, and that the business Is done under sub
stantially dissimilar conditions from those under
which local transportation is conducted: that
should rates for Intermediate or local trac be re-
duced to figures that must be charged for through
business ii the company is get any OF the latter
the entire receipts OF the road would be inadequate
to pay its fixed charges The road asks permission
to make rates charging less for long than short
haul
There were fifteen or twenty gentlemen repre-
senttng tse Pacific roads present at the hearing,
and, In reply to questions OF the Commissioners
they explained the business OF their
roads and the necessity for a suspension OF the
fourth section Of the law.
The hearing of the representatives OF Pacific
railroads was continued during the afternoon.
The arguments were mainly addressed to the
operation of the fourth section and ia behalf OF
Its suspension. II
Ex-senator Van Wyck was present, and by per.
mission OF the board asked some questions tn re-
gard 70 the rates from Omaha east and west
At the afternoon session OF the Interstate Com.
mission yesterday hearing was given the repre-
Sentat1ves Of several Northwestern railroad inter
ests. Mr.. j. a. Hanley, general manager Of the
Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad, presented
petition to allow that road to regulate its tariffs
between certain points. General Manager w. S.
Mellen, Of the Wisconsin Central lines petittOned
for suspension of the long and short haul clause